Volunteers pitch in, clean up Rochester on Pride Day

ROCHESTER — Eight-thirty a.m. came early and cool for more than two hundred Rochester residents Saturday.

“When we started this morning, the temperature was 35 degrees,” reported Michael Provost, Director of the Rochester Main Street Program.

The reason for the masses of Lilac City residents, subjecting themselves to the almost winter-like climes, was their involvement with Rochester Pride Day.

“The program started five years ago,” explained Provost. “It began as a roadside cleanup program and has evolved into a joint project between the Main Street Program and the Rochester Recreation Department.”

As Provost was speaking, young Matt Ryan, 9, a student at the St. Elizabeth Seton School was setting down some rakes and other implements.

“I was involved in the Riverwalk project,” said Ryan, “and we planted three flower beds.” Ryan's father, Kevin, a Rochester State Farm Insurance agent, and Design Committee Chair, described the work. “We planted a number of different things from Studleys: perennials, flox, Bee Balm, with the assistance of the Rochester Home Depot.”

“This is fun and a good way for the city to grow,” said Ryan.

Volunteer teams spread out throughout the community. From East Rochester, to the Crossroads and downtown, crews numbering from a few, to as many as 20, like the Spaulding High School ROTC cadets raked, mulched, swept, weeded, painted and generally spruced up each area for three and a half hours.

Cadets from the Highlanders Civil Air Patrol were also intrinsic.

At noon, many congregated at the Rochester Ice Arena for a cookout, replete with burgers, dogs, and cookies.

“This award,” said Colanto, “goes to the team that showed the most spirit in helping clean up their city, even to the point of having t-shirts made up.”

To the applause of their many co-volunteers, members of the First Church Congregational UCC, accepted the award.

Eight members of the church were clad in white t-shirts with a picture of the church silk-screened on the back.

“We worked in the big area off Charles,” said Bill Stammis. “There were a lot of black locust trees that had to be cut down. They had big, nasty thorns. We found a whole stairway and a container for acetylene torn fuel as well.”

Church member Patrick Cyr commented, “it was a lot of fun, and we'd like to recognize our Pastor, Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy for the inspiration. She motivates the congregation and urges us to do good outside the walls of the church.”

Colanto thanked all that participated, as well as the many organizations that donated. “The food was all Hannaford Brothers and we could not have survived the chilly morning without Dunkin' Donuts,” she said. “Papa Gino's helped out with lunch and, of course, Home Depot's help was invaluable.”

There was actually a value that could be placed on the day, as a formula used by the National Non-Profit Association computed 3.5 hours at $20.36 per hour, which was the average wage that would have been used by a business, and the 227 volunteers equated to $16,176.02. That's the amount we saved the City of Rochester today,” said Provost.

Cameron McLaughlin, 25, who was participating in his fourth Pride Day, was busting with pride himself. “It is so great to see so many people out here, I'm just doing my part to help out.”

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